A Different Kind of Homeschooling Excellence!

Are you a homeschooling parent who is frustrated as you search for curriculum?

Are you teaching a "regular old kid" who may or may not be headed for Harvard, or a special needs learner who needs a little extra help?

Are you questioning what the fascination is with teaching Latin to 2nd graders, pushing dual enrollment at ever earlier ages, and fretting about SAT and ACT scores when your child is 12 years old?

At Blue Collar Homeschool, we are focusing on a different kind of homeschooling excellence. In a world that tries to pound all children into the same "one-size-fits-all" college box, we are pointing toward a different path, one of educational diversity that still believes in the need for strong foundational academics, but doesn't exclude the notion that the trades or entrepreneurship are a very valid end goal.

We are not against college, and we know that secondary education of some sort is absolutely desirable. However, as of 2012 only 41% of Americans have a college degree, and that leaves 59% of Americans whose K-12 education focused solely on a college prep education that they would never use, and which left little time to educate them more adequately for the future they would inhabit.

What about our non-university bound students? Why are we not better educating them for the future they will have? We all are well aware that every child needs to read, write, and perform mathematical calculations well. But does every learner need 4 years of advanced science in high school? Does every learner need to know how to write a 30 page essay with proper citations if they are not headed to college? Does every child need a semester of Shakespeare, Calculus, or to be able to recite the Periodic Table of Elements in order to have a successful future?

We would argue that the answer to that is a resounding "No", and it has nothing to do with wanting to "dumb down" a child's education, but has more to do with seeing a need for generalized academics plus specialized skills. Yea, you know, sort of like we did 30 years ago when Auto Mechanics, Woodshop, Dental Hygiene and much more was considered a valid high school course of study. We want to bring back the days when business clubs like DECA and Junior Achievement proliferated on American High School campuses.

Homeschooling allows us to teach to the specific gifts of each of our children. We don't have to see them shoved into a "college at all costs" box (and what a cost these days!) which might be a terrible fit for them. We can customize their education, we can bring back the trades and technical training, we can introduce them to the benefits of a career in the military, or as a business owner.

Blue Collar Homeschool is a place where we hope to be able to direct you to resources that fits your "ordinary" learner...the precious son or daughter who you hope to help guide to a successful adult life and career. We will also have ongoing blog conversations that will inform you and enlighten you as you look toward the future for your unique student. Homeschooling curriculum abounds, and instead of sharing resources that everyone already knows about, we will focus on featuring curriculum that makes homeschooling simpler and easier for the average homeschooling mom to use to teacher her average children, and yet provide what will most likely still be an above average education versus the traditional brick and mortar.

I guess you could say we are helping parents steer their children toward... "A Different Kind of Homeschooling Excellence".